Trip Gabriel discovers Des Moines

You may not know it, but Des Moines is a pretty cool place to live. Trip Gabriel, of The New York Times, is finding out that being a transplant in Des Moines has its upsides — including good food, cheap rent, an amazing farmers market and genuinely nice people. And, of course, one can’t help but notice that Iowa voters are sincere in their effort to vet the candidates.

Iowans take their role in the presidential process very seriously. They follow the news, read policy statements and famously expect to meet candidates two or three times before making up their minds. It is my impression that they mistrust the news media a little less than elsewhere and earnestly share their views with reporters.